Former beauty queen Ariella Arida said on Friday, September 24, that the postponement of the upcoming Miss Universe Philippines was understandable given the situation that the world is currently in.
“Ako understandable naman na these things happen kasi nga pandemic. Tapos with our situation talaga na hindi natin alam ang schedule na minsan magla-lockdown, minsan ECQ, MECQ,” she said during the virtual media conferece for her upcoming Vivamax film Sarap Mong Patayin.
She is more concerned about the state of the aspiring beauty queens that were partaking in pageants such as Miss Universe, urging them not to stop dreaming and pursuing their dreams.
“Ako actually naaawa ako sa mga girls at this time joining the pageants.
“Kasi yung Miss World ang tagal nang na-postponed parang nakailang beses naiba yung sched, and now itong Miss Universe Philippines.
“If I were those girls, sana wag silang mag-give up and sana ituloy nila ang momentum though alam kong mahirap. Kasi iba kasi yung pagdere-deretso ka na sa journey mo.”
The event’s organizers announced via an Instagram post that the pageant will push through and will take place in Bohol on September 30.
The finals will be held at the Henann Resort Convention Center in Panglao, Bohol.
Arida who is staying in San Francisco during the media conference also revealed her top three Miss Universe candidates who she believes would take home the crown.
“I love this girl from Mandaluyong (Corazon Abalos). Sobrang Filipina looking.”
She is also rooting for Katrina Dimaranan who she believes is the ‘most prepared’ candidate.
“Well my take lang kasi if tuloy ang Miss Universe this December, so hopefully they would send someone na ready na ready nang lumaban kasi parang it’s parang gonna be two or three months preparation,’ she reasoned.
Her last bet to win the crown is Steffi Aberasturi who is oozing with charisma.
“Si Ms. Cebu, si Steffi Aberasturi. Naggo-grow s’ya sa ‘kin. I mean I love yung charisma n’ya, she’s always smiling, and you can feel the confidence,” she revealed.
The 2013 Miss Universe Philippines titleholder also sent her message to her fellow celebrities Kisses Delavin and Maureen Wroblewitz who are part of the Top 30 in the prestigious pageant this year.
“I know naman they are well-equipped kung paano magha-handle ng pressure especially ngayon na sila ang talagang heavy favorites, parang gano’n kalaki din ang pressure sa kanila.
“Pero sana, ‘wag silang masyadong magpadala do’n. I mean take it as something constructively na gawin nilang more motivation and inspiration.”
Arida as Bagong Pantasya ng Vivamax?
Sarap Mong Patayin, is Ariella’s titular project in Vivamax.
The movie is directed by award-winning and controversial director, Direk Darryl Yap.
Press people have tagged her as the ‘bagong pantasya ng Vivamax’ and her reaction was this: “Ako, super flattering for me na ayun ang the way they started it.”
But she noted that she also wants to do an action project like Lara Croft in Tomb Raider.
“Actually more of the Tomb Raider type. I love the outdoors po, active din ako with different sports. Something like that, yung medyo badass girl.
“Siguro it’s something din na people wouldn’t see me as such kasi nga parang beauty queen. Akala nila it’s all the glamor ang iniikutan nang mundo ko.
“But in reality, I’m more of the outdoor type kahit tipong pagulungin mo ako sa putik, tipong gano’n. So I’m looking sa role na active, action, mga tipong gano’n,” she explained.
However, Direk Darryl considered it as an ‘understatement’ given that Arida can really act.
He even compared her with the sexy stars he worked with such as AJ Raval, Cindy Miranda, and Kylie Versoza.
“But with Ariella, kung s’ya ang bagong pantasya, I think that is an understatement. Sa tingin ko higit pa do’n because she really can act.
“I’m not saying na those previous mentioned actresses cannot but with the role I gave Ariella dito, ‘pag napanood mo talaga s’ya, makakalimutan mo na s’ya yung Miss Universe na naglugay.
“Yung level nang pinagdaanan ni Nerissa who is Cindy, ni AJ sa Taya at sa Pornstar, at ni Kylie sa Housemaid, if you would compare it, medyo nakakaawa dito si Ara,” he said.
Though he is happy Arida is being dubbed as the next fantasy of Vivamax.
“So I’m just very happy for her that she’s being tagged like that. Well for a queen like her, she’s a fantasy and really an intelligent queen,” he said.
The movie is about catfishing and involves a lot of violence, nudity, and drugs. When asked if she had done something daring, the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2013 told the media to ‘watch out for it.’
“Pasilip? Siguro yun ang dapat nilang abangan kung ano ang mga masisilip nila. At kailangan nilang maging alert para masilip ‘yon. So abangan nila ‘yon. Well ‘di naman sila for sure aantukin sa film na ‘to. Dilat na dilat sila from start to finish kaya for sure masisilip nila ‘yon,” she teased.
She is joined by Lassy Marquez, Kit Thompson, and Bob Jbieli in this newest offer of Vivamax that will be available for streaming starting October 15.
